Benzene and Methane Adsorption on Ultrahigh Surface Area Carbons Prepared from Sulphonated Styrene Divinylbenzene Resin by KOH Activation

Abstract

A commercially available styrene divinylbenzene ion-exchange resin, Amberjet 1200 H, was used to prepare a series of activated carbons through carbonization and subsequent activation with varying amounts of KOH. The resulting activated carbons showed a well-developed porous structure with specific surface area in the range of 730-3870 m . Importantly, these structural parameters can be changed by varying the amount of KOH used for the activation. These carbons showed extremely good adsorption properties towards benzene and methane at 20 °C. The best uptakes for benzene and methane (19.6 and 1.68 mmol g -1 , respectively) were obtained for the carbon activated using the KOH/C ratio of 4. These values correspond to the gravimetric adsorptions of 1.53 g/g and 27 mg/g, respectively. Benzene adsorption was analyzed using the Dubinin-Radushkevich (DR) equation. The micropore volume calculated using the DR equation based on benzene adsorption corresponds well with the micropore volume calculated from nitrogen adsorption by the α s comparative method. The high values of the structural parameters and the resulting high benzene and methane uptakes render the obtained activated carbons as prospective materials for use in environmental remediation and energy-related applications such as volatile organic compound adsorption and methane storage.

Interaction between Hydrocarbons C6 and Modified Activated Carbons: Correlation between Adsorption Isotherms and Immersion Enthalpies

“…The results shown in Table are consistent with those reported in the literature since published micropore volume values are within the following ranges: benzene, 0.21–0.92 cm 3 g –1 ; cyclohexane, 0.11–0.69 cm 3 g –1 ; and hexane, 0.19–0.70 cm 3 g –1. ,− …”

Preparation of Porous Carbons from Petroleum Pitch and Polyaniline by Thermal Treatment for Methane Storage

“…Others authors have studied methane adsorption on activated carbons prepared by KOH activation, using as precursor a commercial styrene divinylbenzene ion-exchange resin [21]. The materials prepared with apparent surface areas up to 3870 m 2 g -1 were used in the methane adsorption at 20 °C and up to 800 mmHg, the higher value of adsorption showed was 1.68 mmol g -1 (27 mg/g) In this work, two materials have been selected, a graphitizable carbon, which comes from a mesophase pitch obtained from a petroleum residue and a non-graphitizable carbon, obtained from the pyrolysis of polyaniline.…”

“…Others authors have studied methane adsorption on activated carbons prepared by KOH activation, using as a precursor the commercial styrene divinylbenzene ion-exchange resin. 21 The materials prepared with apparent surface areas up to 3870 m 2 g −1 were used in the methane adsorption at 20 °C and up to 800 mmHg, and the higher value of adsorption showed was 1.68 mmol g −1 (27 mg/g).…”

Sulfur-Doped Millimeter-Sized Microporous Activated Carbon Spheres Derived from Sulfonated Poly(styrene–divinylbenzene) for CO2 Capture

“…For industrial-scale CO 2 capture, macro-sized carbon spheres have several specific advantages over granular or powdered activated carbon materials, such as high purity, good fluidity, and low material abrasion. − Millimeter-sized poly­(styrene–divinylbenzene) spheres are easy to prepare by suspension polymerization, and the resin spheres can be modified by different functional groups to introduce heteroatoms. − Among the various functionalized resins, sulfonated poly­(styrene–divinylbenzene) is the most commonly used carbon precursor. During the pyrolysis process, the sulfonic acid groups work not only as cross-linking agents leading to a high carbon yield (>40% at 800 °C) but also as sulfur resources to introduce various sulfur functionalities into the carbon surface and framework. , Literatures previously reported sulfonated poly­(styrene–divinylbenzene)-based carbon spheres which were mainly derived from commercial ion-exchange resins. − Choma and co-workers obtained a series of microporous carbons from commercially available styrene–divinylbenzene resin spheres with sulfo functional groups through carbonization and KOH activation. Unfortunately, the spherical morphology was destroyed during KOH activation, and the activated carbon possessed irregular particles of different sizes.…”

“…30,37 Literatures previously reported sulfonated poly(styrene−divinylbenzene)-based carbon spheres which were mainly derived from commercial ion-exchange resins. 38−41 Choma and co-workers 41 obtained a series of microporous carbons from commercially available styrene−divinylbenzene resin spheres with sulfo functional groups through carbonization and KOH activation. Unfortunately, the spherical morphology was destroyed during KOH activation, and the activated carbon possessed irregular particles of different sizes.…”